KUANTAN: The overall progress of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, spanning four states -- Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Selangor -- has reached 78.5 per cent as of last month, says Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
He said this promising progress aligns with the scheduled completion of the first phase of the ECRL, running from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, to the Gombak Integrated Terminal, Selangor, by December 2026, with operations expected to begin in January 2027.
Amir Hamzah added that the second phase, connecting Gombak to Port Klang, is set to be completed by December 2027 and fully operational by January 2028, based on the project's current developments.
"Alhamdulillah, this is no small project - it is a major endeavour involving many stakeholders working together. I congratulate MRL (Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd) and CCC-ECRL (China Communications Construction) for their collaboration in achieving the current progress.
"This project will boost the economy of the East Coast, acting as a catalyst to attract more investments to the region while creating numerous job opportunities in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang,” he said.
He was speaking at a press conference after launching the SDG Sukuk Impact Reporting for the ECRL project at the Section 10 ECRL project site on Tuesday (Feb 4). Also present was MRL chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak.
Regarding the Sukuk report, Amir Hamzah highlighted in his speech that it serves as proof of MRL’s commitment to ensuring sustainable, high-impact infrastructure development for long-term benefits.
By leveraging the Sukuk SDG Impact Report, he said the ECRL project not only enhances connectivity but also aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advancing environmental, social and economic objectives for the country.
"The report highlights the significant progress made and the measurable impacts of this landmark initiative. In April 2024, MRL achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Ministry of Finance (MoF) company and the first in the transport industry to establish an SDG Sukuk programme.
"This groundbreaking effort raised RM4.50 billion in 2024 to fund the ECRL, a transformative project connecting Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang to the Greater Klang Valley as well as enhancing connectivity and unlocking vast economic opportunities across these regions,” he said.
He said the SDG Sukuk issuance attracted overwhelming interest from investors and achieved the tightest spread for a government-guaranteed Sukuk in Malaysia’s history.
"This success earned prestigious accolades, including Best Islamic Finance Deal in Southeast Asia and Best Green Sukuk 2024 by Alpha Southeast Asia, further reinforcing Malaysia’s global leadership in Islamic finance and sustainable development,” he added.
Meanwhile, Darwis stated that the ECRL project is on track for completion as scheduled, with construction progressing smoothly across 361 active work sites involving more than 18,000 personnel along the ECRL route.
"With this highly encouraging construction momentum, MRL is optimistic about commencing ECRL operations in two years, aligning with the aspirations of the public and the business community in providing seamless transportation for passengers and cargo.
"As such, East Coast residents living in the Klang Valley will only need to wait for two more Syawals before they can take the ECRL home to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri in 2027,” he said.- Bernama
